Editing Virginia-class submarine (section)

=== Future acquisitions ===
The Navy initially planned to acquire at least 30 ''Virginia''-class submarines,<ref name="jeffhead1">{{cite web |url=http://www.jeffhead.com/usn21/nssn.htm |title=US Navy 21st Century - SSN Virginia Class |publisher=Jeffhead.com |access-date=25 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411004055/http://www.jeffhead.com/usn21/nssn.htm |archive-date=11 April 2013 |url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref name="submarinesuppliers2">{{cite web |url=http://www.submarinesuppliers.org/programs/index.php |title=Submarine Industrial Base Council |publisher=Submarinesuppliers.org |date=22 December 2008 |access-date=25 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119163338/http://www.submarinesuppliers.org/programs/index.php |archive-date=19 January 2012}}</ref> however, more recent data provided by the Naval Submarine League (in 2011) and the Congressional Budget Office (in 2012) seems to imply that more than 30 submarines may eventually be built. The Naval Submarine League believes that up to 10&nbsp;Block&nbsp;V boats will be built.<ref name="navalsubleague1"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.navalsubleague.com/NSL/default.aspx |title=Naval Submarine League |publisher=Navalsubleague.com |access-date=25 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130125120330/http://www.navalsubleague.com/NSL/default.aspx/ |archive-date=25 January 2013}}</ref> The same source also states that 10 additional submarines could be built after Block&nbsp;V submarines, with 5 in the so-called Block&nbsp;VI and 5 in Block&nbsp;VII, largely due to the delays experienced with the "Improved ''Virginia''". These 20&nbsp;submarines (10&nbsp;Block&nbsp;V, 5&nbsp;Block&nbsp;VI, 5&nbsp;Block&nbsp;VII) would carry VPM bringing the total number of ''Virginia''-class submarines to 48 (including the 28&nbsp;submarines in Blocks I, II, III and IV). The CBO in its 2012 report states that 33&nbsp;''Virginia''-class submarines will be procured in the 2013–2032 timeframe,<ref name="cbo" /> resulting in 49&nbsp;submarines in total since 16 were already procured by the end of 2012.<ref name="FAS Weapons">{{cite web |url=http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/awx_04_10_2013_p0-567382.xml |title=Funding For U.S. Navy Subs Runs Deep |work=Aviation Week |date=10 April 2013 |access-date=26 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520220537/http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=%2Farticle-xml%2Fawx_04_10_2013_p0-567382.xml |archive-date=20 May 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Such a long production run seems unlikely but another naval program, the {{sclass|Arleigh Burke|destroyer|1}}, is still ongoing even though the first vessel was ordered in 1985.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RL32109.pdf |title=Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress |first=Ronald |last=O'Rourke |date=22 October 2013 |work=[[Congressional Research Service]] |access-date=12 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328211730/http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RL32109.pdf |archive-date=28 March 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=McCullough III |first=Bernard |url=http://www.usni.org/print/25780 |title=Now Hear This - The Right Destroyer at the Right Time |publisher=U.S. Naval Institute |date=January 2013 |volume=139 |issue=1/1,319 |access-date=17 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016051956/http://www.usni.org/print/25780 |archive-date=16 October 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> However, other sources believe that production will end with Block&nbsp;V.<ref>{{cite web |first=John |last=Pike |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ssn-774.htm |title=SSN-774 Virginia-class NSSN New Attack Submarine |publisher=Globalsecurity.org |access-date=25 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122000352/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ssn-774.htm |archive-date=22 January 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> In addition, data provided in CBO reports tends to vary considerably compared to earlier editions.<ref name="cbo" />

One Block VI submarine will include an organic ability to employ [[seabed warfare]] equipment.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Eckstein |first1=Megan |title=Navy New Virginia Block VI Virginia Attack Boat Will Inform SSN(X) |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/prized-ohio-guided-missile-submarine-will-be-gone-from-navy-by-2028 |website=thedrive.com |date=18 April 2023 |publisher=TheDrive |access-date=18 April 2023 |archive-date=19 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419185837/https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/prized-ohio-guided-missile-submarine-will-be-gone-from-navy-by-2028 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

General Dynamics Electric Boat, a business unit of General Dynamics, announced on 5 August 2024 it has been awarded a $1.3 billion undefinitized contract modification allowing Electric Boat to purchase long lead time materials for Virginia Class Block VI submarines.<ref>[https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/3862089/ General Dynamics Electric Boat awarded $1.3 billion contract modification for long lead time material for Virginia-class submarines]. defense.gov </ref>

During the Naval Submarine League's annual symposium on 13 November 2024 plans for extending Virginia class to Block VIII - due to [[SSN(X)]] delays - were voiced.<ref>[https://news.usni.org/2024/11/13/naval-reactors-virginia-class-will-extend-to-block-viii-ssnx-start-in-2040s Naval Reactors: Virginia-class Will Extend to Block VIII, SSN(X) Start in 2040s]</ref>